Arranged

Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

A lejandro

Neutral ground.

It was well known that politically motivated meetings held between crime syndicates were usually held at a location not included in the territory of either family. In this case, neither Massachusetts nor Connecticut had been sanctioned as being worthwhile, even though everyone seemed to have their eyes on Boston, not only for the wealth, but the ports.

Perhaps that was a reason for this meeting.

We hadn’t been privy to learning anything about the full reason beforehand, other than it would hopefully stop a bloody war. Which neither side seemed to want.

The restaurant was located in the smaller coastal town of New Haven, Connecticut, close enough, but still a drive.

Both Gio and Bronco had gone in with the Don while Dion and I remained outside for now. Once the meeting began, other soldiers we’d brought with us would guard the exterior. The caution wasn’t all about the concern for sabotage, but also about any members of law enforcement who might take it upon themselves to try to arrest two prominent men.

The meeting was hush-hush, but, in this day and age, information could be bought and sold for cryptocurrency.

“What did you think of the party the other night?” Dion asked, more to pass the time. We stood staring in opposite directions, ready to fire at will if necessary.

“Big. Flashy. Expensive. A crock of shit.”

He laughed. “I forgot you like the simpler things, although that condo you own is pretty spiffy.”

“Spiffy?” I asked, tossing him a look and grinning. “How old are you?”

“Very funny. You know what I mean.”

Yeah, I did. It was a far cry from what I was used to with leather furniture and fucking artwork I couldn’t understand on the walls. But it was appropriate for a man of my substance. “What is it between you and that girl?”

“What girl, Amber?”

Scowling, I resisted punching him in the arm. “Not Amber. I noticed the way you were looking at Carmella.”

“She’s a character. I’ve known her a long time. Did you know she’s a doctor, a pediatrician? The man’s pride and joy.”

“Interesting.” I knew enough about Don Lupini and his family to know he’d married a second time. However, Carmella had almost never been mentioned. “I don’t think she was happy to be there or to see you.”

“Nope. We have history and it’s not so nice. I’m trying to make it up to her, but she’s a tough one.”

Tough wasn’t the word I’d use. She was beautiful, formidable, and she’d managed to take my breath away and that never happened. “You consider her your girl?”

“Why? Are you thinking about dating her?” I sensed an edge in the man’s voice.

You didn’t do that kind of thing to a member of the crew. Never. It was a fire-able offense. “Hell, no. She’s not my type, but I think she’d say that about you.”

I laughed and he sneered on purpose.

“She’s been hurt. Some jerk took advantage of her. I almost killed the dude, but she wouldn’t have liked that very much.” He leaned against the SUV, glancing at the restaurant. “I don’t know though. I think we’d be good together. You know? It might take a little while, but I really do think we are a perfect match.”

One made in hell.

I wasn’t going to say that to him, but that’s exactly what I was thinking. I liked Dion. I had since the beginning of my employment, but I couldn’t see him with a woman like Carmella. She was refined and I doubted she would tolerate a life that included being considered a mafia queen.

My balls tightened just thinking of her. I needed to get off the subject or Dion would suspect I liked her. “Are you certain we have the area covered?”

“Completely. Two of the men are cruising the streets. Lupini’s crew are keeping their distance on the other side of the restaurant. I think we all know our place.”

I glanced at the three vehicles full of Lupini’s men. As I always did in any stressful situation, I calculated how many rounds of ammunition it would take to gun them down if necessary. Sighing, I was the one who noticed Gio beckoning us into the restaurant.

It was important the pecking order be presented in these situations. I’d learned slowly the extensive protocol. There were more rules than any political party. I’d laughed in the beginning, but had grown to respect the reasons why.

They kept people alive.

“Here we go,” Dion said. “This should be interesting.”

Interesting wasn’t the word. The meeting was not quite unprecedented, but unusual to say the least.

Once inside, we were guided to a private area where they were drinking wine and enjoying eating a pasta dish, talking as if they were old friends.

No one acknowledged our presence, but I could tell by Don Santorelli’s body language that he was more comfortable having his top two people with him.

We remained in the background like flies on a wall.

“I agree with you completely, Luis. We need to work together. Perhaps an alliance will strengthen our hold on the East Coast.”

“Agreed,” Luis stated. “But some will see it as a very thin tether and that’s not in our best interest. Obtaining Boston and the surrounding areas and ports will introduce us to new business opportunities.”

“Very true, which is why I have an idea that might work.” Matheas grinned.

“By all means. I’m eager to hear what you have in mind.”

“A marriage between our two families.”

Luis coughed, coming close to choking. His Underboss took a step forward and was waved off. “I don’t mean to sound crass, but my son is only sixteen. Your daughter just turned seventeen. While I don’t mind young marriages, that is unacceptable. I also don’t think my son will be ready to handle any leadership role for years to come.”

“We could announce their engagement, but in truth, I agree with you. However, there is another option.”

Dion took a deep and audible breath beside me.

“Go on,” Luis pushed.

“I had a thought. It occurred to me the other night at the party. Carmella and Dion.” He allowed the announcement of the suggested couple to hang.

Luis sat back, placing his fork gingerly on the plate. “That is an option. A good one. Dion is in line to take my place when I retire.”

To announce he had no faith in his son’s leadership skills was surprising. Dion’s face was red, but I could see excitement in his eyes. He was eating this up.

“Granted, I’m not certain my daughter will be so inclined as to entertain a marriage of convenience.” Matheas glanced up at the two of us. “However, I can try and have a frank discussion with her.”

I suddenly felt uncomfortable.

“Understandable, but she is the firstborn daughter of one of the most powerful men in America. Surely, you can help her understand the importance of her heritage.” Luis was already planning the damn wedding.

What a way to keep a war from ensuing.

“Yes, I believe I could. I’ll need a couple days before the announcement is made.”

“Absolutely. Let’s toast to our new strength, our new hold. Our new alliance.”

I took a deep breath. This was startling news and would put the other crime syndicates on notice. That alone could start a much larger war if we weren’t careful.

They continued the meeting through their meal, turning the bulk of their conversation to the lives and accomplishments of family members. I was edgy, more so than usual, even slipping out and heading to the front door.

Dion was right behind me, following me outside.

“What’s wrong? You don’t like the suggestion of me being the Don at some point?” Dion was genuinely curious.

“It’s not that. I have a strange sixth sense about this meeting. I think we need to try and have them wrap it up.”

“You and your instincts. Granted, they’ve never steered me wrong. Let me see what I can do. Stay here.”

I nodded and unfastened my suit jacket. I’d stopped two separate massacres from occurring based on my intuition alone. I walked down the stairs of the restaurant, heading toward one side of the building. There was nothing unusual happening that I could see, no strange cars parked close.

But the feeling remained, enough so that when the two Dons walked through the entrance, I immediately placed my hand on my weapon, unsnapping the holster.

I headed toward the two waiting SUVs, both as bulletproof as anything at the White House. Still, that didn’t mean the men would be safe. There were boobytraps used that could render the vehicle inoperable, thereby providing time for an attack.

I remained a few feet away, constantly sweeping the area. My senses were on high alert and a single noise drew my attention.

Another vehicle was in the distance. No, not just one, but several. They were flying in our direction. I spun around, locking eyes with Dion.

We reacted as we’d been trained to do, Lupini’s men as well. But everything happened so fast, gunfire suddenly coming from two directions.

I threw myself over Don Santorelli. “Stay down. Do not move.”

He nodded, crawling closer to the vehicle while I jumped to a standing position, the weapon already in my hand. As I fired off several shots, Lupini’s men worked with ours, able to toss Lupini into one of the waiting vehicles.

I dropped and rolled as a few men piled out of one unknown SUV, shooting four of them dead within seconds. But there were more, gunfire and shouts permeating the air.

Everything was chaotic, the shouts continuing. One of the enemy vehicles crashed into a pole and I raced toward them, throwing open the door and killing the occupants.

But I heard another shout, one I’d consider mournful. I turned, racing back to the parking lot just as a Dion caught a bullet. I reacted, catching and dragging him down to the pavement, doing my best to shield his body as I fired off on all sides.

Gio and Bronco had taken over, working with Lupini’s men. Additional gunshots made way for an eerie quiet.

Gasping, I looked over at Don Santorelli. His shirt was soaked with blood. When I glanced down at Dion, I threw back my head and roared.

* * *

Carmella

“Sasha.” I took long strides closer, doing my best to ignore the dozen or more soldiers standing in the corridor. Their pressed suits and white shirts weren’t fooling anyone.

I could tell by the faces of the doctors and nurses they were well aware the men would shoot to kill.

And they had every right to be afraid.

“Carmella.” Sasha was understandably shaken, her face tearstained.

She said something to the girl I knew had become her assistant over the years, one of her many jobs keeping up with the Sasha’s frequent public outings. I’d often found it close to hysterical that various women’s clubs wanted the wife of a known and admitted mobster to speak at their illustrious luncheons and charity events.

Things in the world of crime syndicates were much different than I remembered or in the stories I’d read. I’d also needed to weed through the press taking up residence outside the hospital in hopes of obtaining a story that would put their careers on the map.

With half the fifth floor blocked off, only accessible by passing through the scrutiny of two of my father’s most trusted men, the entire situation left a bad taste in my mouth.

But I couldn’t avoid the fact my father had been shot.

“I’m so glad you’re here. Your father has been asking for you.” Sasha gripped my hand, squeezing as she peered at me.

I’d gotten word of my father’s shooting less than two hours before, barely able to make arrangements for Zoe to pick up Gabriel after preschool. I’d been told nothing on the phone call except I needed to make my way to the hospital.

In a hurry.

“What’s his condition?” I pressed.

“Two shots to his upper torso. The doctors don’t think they are life threatening, but one nicked his lung.”

That was serious, no matter if anyone had dared admit that to the woman. I glanced down the hall, noticing Drago was alone in guarding my father’s room. “What the fuck happened?”

Sasha seemed leery to tell me anything, her face turning ashen. “He and Don Santorelli were attacked outside a restaurant in Connecticut.”

“What the hell were the two of them doing in another state?” My thoughts drifted briefly to Amber’s birthday party. My gut had nagged me for hours that something was brewing between them. Whatever it was had nearly taken my father’s life.

“You know your father. He didn’t tell me anything and he’s tight-lipped right now. I just…” She let out a heavy sob, her shoulders sagging.

“Have Amber and Michael been told?”

She shook her head. “Not yet. They both had exams today. Several of your father’s men are waiting for them at the high school. They’re being protected.”

“Who the fuck did this? Santorelli’s men?”

“I just don’t know.”

I squeezed her hand again. “Why don’t you get some coffee? I’ll look in on Daddy. Okay? You need to take care of you.”

“I’ll try. Again, I’m so glad you’re here. Your father does really love you. I hope you know that.”

There was something almost off about her admittance. I’d always known my father loved me, although at times he had a strange way of showing his love.

I glanced at the lineup of soldiers before making my way down the corridor.

Every single man straightened up as I passed, as if I was going to do an inspection. They’d never acted that way around me before. To them, I was merely the daughter of their leader, someone who didn’t rate but so much importance. Their expressions of respect sent a chill through me.

Did they know something I didn’t know?

Drago jerked his head up, his features softening to some degree when he realized who was standing in front of him.

“What happened, Drago?” I asked, trying to be as comforting as possible. I didn’t like the man in the least and he didn’t like me.

“Ambush.”

“Santorelli?”

“No.”

A man of many words. I wasn’t likely to get any additional details out of him. He was guarded, close-lipped and completely loyal to my father. When I started to go into the ICU room he acted as if he wasn’t going to let me pass.

“What, Drago? Do you have something to say to me?”

He smirked, his eyebrows furrowing. He was a big, powerful, menacing man, but he didn’t scare me. That had bothered him for years.

“I’ll never support your leadership.”

What the fuck was he talking about? I laughed even though there was nothing funny about the moment or the situation. Waging war on my father meant additional bloodshed. That worried me for my brother and sister. I shook my head, too tired and overwrought to try to ascertain what the hell he was getting at.

When I walked in, the nurse inside the room gave me a hard onceover. “I’m Dr. Carmella Lupini, his daughter.”

The girl nodded, her eyes opening wider when she heard my professional term. Usually that allowed me certain freedoms in a hospital.

“Your father is resting. Don’t be too long.”

“I’ll need to see his doctor.”

“Yes. I’ll have him come in when he can.” She couldn’t have scurried away any faster.

When she was gone, I stood where I was, listening to the subtle beeping of the monitors watching his blood pressure and heartrate. My father looked almost serene, peaceful in a slumber versus being hooked up to machines.

I pulled one of the chairs closer, sitting down and studying him. His face was completely white, his lips so pale I was concerned. At least his heartrate was good, his pulse steady even if his blood pressure was elevated slightly.

Even though I was a doctor, there was nothing worse than being in a hospital room. At least in his room, soundproofing prevented us from hearing any other patients in agony. After staring at him for a few minutes, I dropped my head into my hands. This was another reminder of why I’d done everything in my power to distance myself from the ugliness birthed generations before.

“My beautiful daughter.”

Hearing the wavering in my dad’s voice brought a hard stabbing in my stomach. He’d always been so strong, infallible in my mind. When I lifted my head, the harsh reminder of his age settled like a heavy weight in my gut.

“Daddy. What in the hell happened?”

“One of my many enemies, I suppose.”

“Not Santorelli?”

He tried to laugh, immediately shifting into a coughing fit.

“You need to conserve your energy, Dad. Just rest.” As soon as I tried to stand, he grabbed my hand, his hold surprisingly strong.

“There are some things we need to discuss.” His tone was now imploring.

“Okay, but for only a few minutes.” I sat back down.

He shifted in the bed, licking his lips. “Santorelli is a man of honor.”

“Whatever you say.”

“He was also hit in the attack. Several of his men are down. I need you to check on him for me. You must be the family ambassador while I’m healing.”

I almost choked myself. “What about Drago?”

His sigh was heavy. “A good man, but not well liked. You are a bright star. You have a way with words.”

Fine. I’d send the family flowers. “Okay, Daddy. I’ll do what I can.” What was the point in arguing with him?

“There’s something else.”

There almost always was. “What do you need me to do?”

“An alliance has been formed between the Santorelli family and ours. It’s a tremendous step in advancing our territories and our hold on the East Coast.”

“You’re sharing your regime with a monster?”

I could tell by the twinkle in my father’s eyes he was amused by my comment. “I believe you’ve called me that more than once in your life.”

He was right about that. “You know what I mean. Why would you do that? Why would he agree?”

“Because there are several organizations vying to take control of what belongs to us. We can’t and won’t allow that to happen.”

Understandable, but I had no clue how the two men, no matter how powerful they were, could stop the future. “I hear you, Dad. First, you need to concentrate on getting better. You were very lucky.”

“Lucky? My men saved me. We lost two of them. Two! I will not allow any additional lives to be lost.” His blood pressure was increasing, the beeping sounds indicating he’d moved to the redline level.

“Calm down, Daddy. Please? I don’t know how I can help you.”

“It’s simple,” he managed after another coughing spell.

“Okay, how so?”

His grip on my hand was even stronger than before. He looked me directly in the eye, his expression turning stern. “You will marry Dion Marcini, combining families and creating an impenetrable tether.”

“Not a chance, Daddy. I’d do almost anything for you, but not that.”

He tilted his head, his eyes searching mine. “I truly don’t want to require Amber to marry a man twice her age, but I will do so if necessary.”

I was horrified. “She’s a child!”

“She’s seventeen. I married your mother when she was that age.”

My stomach was twisted in knots. “No, I will not do it, and if you dare try and force my baby sister into living some insane family responsibility, I swear to God I will find a way to keep that from happening.” I jerked up, more disgusted with my father than I’d ever been.

For him to even suggest something so repulsive was completely out of character for him. Or maybe I was fooling myself and had been my entire life. He didn’t care about his family. He only cared about money and his goddamn power.

I headed for the door, shaking all over.

“You will do this, Carmella, or I will have no choice.”

“I won’t let you force Amber to marry that pig.”

“Perhaps not, but I’m certain you’ll reconsider if you fully understand that I have the power to control your destiny, including Gabriel.”

“What the fuck does that mean?” I spun around, hissing for the first time at the man. “What are you insinuating, Father?”

“That I’ll have no choice but to give Derek what he wants.”

Derek. My ex. The man who’d abandoned me when I’d needed him the most. “And what’s that?”

“Your son.”